The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-12-25
The smoldsring ruins of a cottage.

Inc smolder1ng ruins or eO6CaBes
A family homeless.
Such is the brief story of widow
Smiths misfortune.
WAL" said Uncle Solomon TO 8
group of neighbors, as they viewed the
embers, "its a derned shame. PVe
knowed this family ever since twas
family. Smith was born over in the
cabin mex the blacksmith shop, when
was runnin it. He almost grew up in
that shop. watchin' the sparks fly and
! list min to the ring of the anvil. When
! he got to be q big boy, | was mighty
glad to hire i'm.
BE worked for rue nigh on sixteen
year, and when l got rheumatic he
bought out the biggest share.
Poor Smith ran the shebaDg for If
| teen year, until ne was droWnded. now
two, year since, tryin' to save Wash.
Perkins boy in the canyon creek.
Wildly Smith. we know, Is big"
Johnson's daughter, and mighty fine
woman she is. But I'm afeard this
comm right on top O. Smiths drownin'
will bout break her up.
Smith pulled along year, by year, /
alluz saving little, It'll he was able to
move out o. the cabin into the new
cottage here. But he died young, and
so all as he left his wife was share in
the shop, their home, and four little
chill Now, where's their homer
Gone up in smoke. The work of twenty
year were undone in half hour.
WAL, boys" continued Uncle Sol,
as he brushed tear from his cheek
with his sleeve, "somets.in's got to be
done, and this benz Chris mas day. we
ought to set the ball rolIin' and try to
cheer her up"
The matter was discussed. A plan
OF campaign was determined.
Each contributed according 10 his
means and the size of his heart, and a
committee set forth on mission of
mercy, .-,-
At the close of the day. the COM
mittee reported. to Uncle Sol in the
woodshed, and it was found that only
little more than 5000 had been col
lected, sum wholly inadequate to re-
build sns refurnlsh an 100 cottage.
However, Uncle Sol raised the sum up
TO $500 from his own pocket, and took
itin to the homeless widow, telling her
The thought of being dependent upon
of her position, brought food of tears
to her eyes.
1t was in this sorrowful mood that
the family and and their guests sat
down to their Christmas dinner. They
ate in silence.
But they were not destined to eat IN
disturbed, A knock sounded upon the
door. The visitor. young man, in
quired for Mrs. Robert Smith, stating
he had been informed that he would
find her there. Mrs. Smith was pointed
out, and the young man said he sup
posed, from what he had heard on the
street as to the fire being total loss. |
that he was the bearer of welcome
tidings. He was, he said clerk in the
employ of firm of insurance agents, |
with whom, two and a half years ago,
Mr.. Robert Smith had insured his |
home and furniture to the fullest ex-
tent, but that, through an oversight, |
the policy had never been delivered; !
that NJ on learning of the fire, the firm |
had dispatched him to deliver the policy |
and to assure the family that the loss |
woul1 be paid with as little delay as |
possible.
Tears were wiped away, and they |
turned that Christmas into q Fourth |
of July.
"Waal. Bob Smith sllus was a level |
headed man.; said Uncle Sol, "his |
brain was as big as his muscle.
The ssyin' says that fool can make |
money, but it. takes a wise man to |
hold it. Bob never made point but |
what he clinched it.. God bless these
Insurance companies; they open the
way for the lucky to help the uniucky,
and for all to help themselves
Insure your dwelling in the Home OF
Utah, II. j. Grant Il Co., General
Agents. Gall around and see how
cheap it is-it will astonlsh you.
CoALTER & SNELGBovE, the salt Lake
Music Dealers.
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